Delia McCabe, PhD


Delia shifted her focus from conventional talking therapy, after completing her Masters in Psychology.

While completing her Masters Delia asked a group of under-achieving school children what their favorite food was and their answers stunned her into taking the road less traveled, away from clinical psychology.

Delia discovered that until the brain is properly nourished no amount of talking can support optimal cognitive functioning - or change.

Delia then immersed herself in the fascinating world of nutritional neuroscience and later examined other lifestyle strategies that impact mental health.

She now offers a focused, insightful, evidence-based approach into how specific, daily choices can improve our mood, concentration, memory and learning ability and help us build cognitive resilience in our busy, complex and stressful world, regardless of our age! 

Delia received a medical PhD from Adelaide Medical School and her current independent research focus is on the neurobiology of burnout, chronic stress, resilience and lifestyle choices.

Delia’s knowledge about the brains requirements for
optimal well being, her enthusiasm for sharing complex science in an easy-to-understand format, and her ability to share practical and actionable steps with her audience, make her a speaker that keeps her audience engaged and enthralled from start to finish.

People who attend Delia’s events and workshops describe them as ‘extremely engaging, enlightening, fascinating, and motivational!'

Delia’s first book, 'Feed Your Brain - 7 Steps to a Lighter, Brighter You!' explains the science behind nutrition and brain health and was released mid-2016.

Delia’s second book, 'Feed Your Brain - The Cookbook' was released in November 2017, and takes the science into your kitchen to enable the creation of delicious, brain-supportive meals.

Delia presents at events and workshops internationally on the topic of nutritional neuroscience, with a special focus on the neurobiology of stress and resilience, and how to use the latest evidence to support ourselves in an increasingly challenging, complex, and often overwhelming world.

Delia Delights in Working With …

• Business owners and team leaders who are committed to their team’s mental well being, who understand that a lack of engagement, enthusiasm and motivation, lead to increased anxiety and depression which reduce organisational effectiveness and increase absenteeism and presenteeism, which reduce company profitability;

• Professionals who understand that their optimal cognitive performance ensures their competitive edge;

• Educators, in any field, who are aware of the rising rates of mental ill health and psychological challenges among people of all ages;

• Parents who are concerned about their child’s developing brain, and want to know how to ensure they reach their intellectual genetic potential, how to support their psychological health and well being, and who are looking for guidance and support on how to introduce brain-nourishing meals and lifestyle shifts to their families.

Delia's Choice of Foods

Delia is often asked about her personal choice of foods.

Delia’s mother appreciated the benefits of a plant-based diet and this approach led to Delia’s continued healthy, plant-based diet when she left home.

What started out as an organic gardening experiment in the backyard, as newly-weds, ended up with the purchase of an organic farm in a fertile valley in the Western Cape, South Africa. Being part of a commercial organic farm deepened Delia’s respect for the practice of growing organic produce and the intricately balanced ecosystem that supports healthy organic food - and healthy ecosystems generally.

One of her first activities after emigrating to Australia was to find her closest organic farmers market which she visited every week.

Now living in the USA, Delia enjoys finding new Farmers Markets, where she can buy the best fresh produce from people who care about the food they grow and the environment.

Delia’s food choices are supported by ongoing international research which strongly suggest we can influence our mental health and well-being by choosing a plant-heavy diet.


Recent Speaking Events: